Buffs’ wrestlers prepped for season openers

BUFFS ROUNDUP: Wednesday, December 4, 2019

WRESTLING

The 10th annual Brown and White Dual concluded Tuesday  night after a big evening of youth wrestling, middle school matches and duals for the varsity Brown and White.

At the end of the matches, Garden City High School’s boys squad is now set for the 2019-20 season-opening tournament which will be Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7 at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The GCHS Lady Buffs wrestlers, who are in their first full season as a recognized varsity sport by the Kansas State High School Activities Association, will send a full contingent to Valley Center on Friday for their inaugural team competition.

Coach Carlos Prieto’s squad, which was preseason ranked No. 1 by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, will send a combination of veteran varsity and newcomers to the Colorado event.

Leading the way will be a pair of seniors who both captured state titles in 2019 — Jacob Holt will be at 145 pounds and has captured two state titles (freshman/junior) and has been runner-up once (sophomore), and Silas Pineda who won the 113-pound crown last season and is competing at 126 pounds.

Junior Josh Janas, a medal-winner a year ago, will be at 152 pounds and is preseason No. 2-ranked. Erick Dominguez is set at 138 and also was ranked No. 4 (145 pounds). Freshmen Ryan Heiman (120-lb., No. 4) and Dakota Smith (113-lb., No. 6) have plenty of experience coming in from youth wrestling. Trae Torres will be in the lineup at 106 pounds.

Others who garnered the top varsity spot for the opener include Steven Sellers (132, Jr.), Jared Arellano (160, No. 5, Sr.), Sergio Garcia (172, So.), Alan Chairez (180, Fr.), Christhian Benitez (195, So.), Matt Smith (220, Jr.) and Eric Hernandez (285, Sr.).

“We’re putting together the bests lineup we can,” said Prieto, saying he would not have either state medalist Alexavier Rodriguez or defending state 6A 285-pound champion Refugio Chairez available this season. “As coach, my expectations remain the same. Just because we lost a couple of key kids, the remaining kids will have to step up and contribute.”

Prieto said he saw many positives from the dual matches throughout the evening.

“I saw a lot of good things that we’ve been working on in the practice room,” Prieto said. “We have a lot of youthfulness and we have kids with a lot of experience. They’re all just going to have to work hard and the results take care of everything.”

On the girls side, junior Anjelina Serrano is the top returner after placing fourth in the Girls State Championship last season. She will be competing at 130 pounds.

The other girls who will compete include Anahi Ceervantes (101, Fr.), Chloe Sullivan (109, Jr.), Sara Chapa (So., 116), Esmerelda Corado (116, Fr.), Destiny Avila (123, Sr.), Belle Hernandez (123, Fr.), Bethanie Cruz (130, Fr.), Nallely Hinjojos (130, Fr.), Alondra Guzman (155, So.), Gisselle Gutierrez (155, Jr.), Kallista Rhoades (170, Fr.), Camila Estevez-Perez (235, Fr.) and Euphrasia Sandoval (235, Fr.).

“I’m really enjoying coaching the girls,” Prieto said after the duals on Tuesday. “They really rocked tonight. They were so excited and it’s a really great experience for them.”